Sarthak Kanjilall & John Wilbert
Port Blair, July 31: Since 54 crew of MV Nancowry have been tested COVID19 positive in Rapid Test and the news spread in social media like wild fire, residents of these Islands are in tremendous fear.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha today, a senior officer of the Directorate of Health Services has confirmed that 54 crew members were tested COVID19 positive in rapid test and some among them were symptomatic, following which the 03 crew of the ship have been shifted to the GB Pant Hospital. Presently all three crew members are doing well now, he said.
However, yesterday the results of the rapid test were not shared with the crew members, and in the evening 08 crew members fell sick, as a result of which the other crew members in the ship shifted these 08 crew members to the GB Pant Hospital by calling an ambulance. Later all of them were allegedly sent back to the ship after which three fell very sick.
Many related to the Directorate of the Shipping Services on condition of anonymity alleged that the Health Department did not take proper care of the 08 crew members who were sent to the hospital yesterday.
Not only this it was also not communicated that who all were tested positive in rapid test, because of which there was a tension onboard the ship. Some people alleged that the ship crew members were also not provided with proper PPE kits.
“Atleast those who were found positive should have been isolated in separate rooms in the ship or in hospital so that others could remain safe. The ship was also not sanitized,” alleged an insider. It is learnt that the ship has now been shifted to Hope Town Jetty with all crew members.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha a senior officer of Health Department said that today RTPCR tests of all crew members have been done and after results, the crew members will be brought out of the ship in phase manner. “Only a few crew will be left in the ship to manage the ship and others will be brought out after knowing exactly who all are positive,” he added.
The ship MV Nancowry arrived in the Islands on 29th July 2020 from Chennai with 135 passengers and later 10 passengers of the ship were reportedly tested COVID-19 positive, in rapid test.
